Vending apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

J A WILLIAMS VENDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 29. 1902.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2. j@

No. 826,207. PATLNTED JULY 12, 16o-6L J. A. WILLIAMS.

VENDING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Nov.2,9, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED si'snrnsV PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES SLOT MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW `YORK, N. Y., A CORPO- RATioN or NEW YORK.

vENDlNe- APPARATUS.

Patented July 17, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Apparatus, of which the following is a specication.

My present invention pertains to improvements in vending apparatus, and relates more particularly to the means employed for holding the operative mechanisms or parts in their proper relations, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, reference being had to the annexed drawings, where- 1n- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet or casewith the front or closure thereof removed, it being seen from the rear; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same, the operative mechanism and magazinebeing removed at the righthand side of said re; Fig. 3, a vertical sectional -view on the ine 1 `1 of Fig.

2; Fig. 4, a'perspective viewof the lower portion of the casing, the parts being shown on a scale somewhatl enlarged; andFig. 5 a perspective .view of a portion of the plate 4or member which is secured to the lower end of the door or closure. i

- `One 'object of my invention is to provide a ready means for securing the magazine which holds the goods in position, so that it will lmaintain its proper place with relation tothe other parts ofthe device.

further object is to provide means for securing the operative mechanism within the casing, so that it may be readily removed and replaced when necessary.

Another object of the invention is to so protect the lower end of the removable door or closure that any tampering with or breaking into the apparatus is practically precluded.

Avstill urther object of the invention is to provide a device which will insure the proper delivery of the goods into the way or channel which passesA to the outside of the casing.

Referring to the drawin s, A indicates the frame or casing, which in t e form illustrated is rectan ular in sha e and is provided with a removable door or clbsure B.

C C indicate the delivery mechanisms, they being shown simply in outline in the present application.A The operative portions of said delivery mechanisms are mounted or secured upon a plate D, the upper end of which is engaged by a lip E on a plate F, which is secured to theside wall of the ,casin At the junction of the base G and each si e wall there is secured an angle-plate H, screws or similar fastening devices passing through said plate into both the base and the side walls. The upper ed e of said plate is provided with a lip I, which, as does also the ip E, stands away from theI side wall. These lips engage the upper and lower ends of the plate D, which carries the operative mechanism, as above stated, so that when the .mechanism is shoved back into place it is securely held by said lips. is employed upon both sides of the casing where what is known as a double machine `is used, and it will of course be understood that but one delivery mechanism may be employed, if so desired.

Secured to theybase of the casing and eX- tending backward against the rear wall thereof is a delivery chute or .channel J, the side walls K'of which project upwardly beneath the downwardly-extending plates L of the delivery mechanisms. The side walls or plates K are provided with laterally-extending wings M at their lower ends, the purpose of which will presently appear.

A plate N forms an extension of the chute or channel J, said plate projecting through an opening O, formed in the lower portion of the door or closure for the delivery of the goods. The outer end of the plate N is formed with a ridge or shoulder P, which affords an abutment or stop for the goods as they are delivered.

Where two delivery mechanisms are employed, there is pivotally suspended above the delivery chute or channel intermediate the mechanisms a valve or dellector Q, which in the form illustrated is simply a sheet-metal plate suspended from the rear of the casing by a bolt or pin R. When a package of goods is thrown toward the delivery chute or channel by one of the delivery mechanisms, it will come in contact with the pivoted plate or dellector and as a consequence be somewhat retarde in its movement. also prevent the goods from being thrown over into the opposite delivery mechanism and will likewise cause the goods to pass The same construction IOC The plate will down into the chute or channel without turning or twisting around. This latter function of the plate prevents the goods from crampvarm of a spring-plate V,`said plate or spring being secured to the under face of the top of the casing in line with the upper end of the magazine. As will be noted, each end of the spring-plate is provided with two downwardly-projecting lugs or fingers W and X,

the finger X projecting downwardly to agreater extent than the finger W. When the magazines are removed, the free arms will assume the positions shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, and when the magazines are in 1 place the position of the parts will be that indicated at the left of Fig. `2 and also in Fig. 1 wherein it will be noted that the upper edge of the magazine is engaged by or held between the ends ofthe downwardly-projecting fingers W and X.

When it is desired to remove a magazine, all that is necessary to be done is to press the outer end of the spring-plate upwardly, thereby disengaging the upper end of the magazine from said spring-plate, after which the magazine may be tilted toward the center of the casing and withdrawn from engagement with the cross-bars or other holding devices which are attached to the operative mechanism.

In replacing the magazine the lower end thereof is passed in between the bars S, the

notched upper end being brought into aline-l ment with the spring-plate V, after which it is moved along the spring-plate until the magazine passes over the short finger W and abuts against the longer finger X. Said longer finger X prevents the overthrow of the magazine toward the side of the casing. In other words, it forms a stop or abutment, preventing further movement of the ma azine. The spring construction not only a ords a ready means for the removal and insertion of the magazine, but it likewise at all times keeps the magazine down to its proper position upon the operative mechanism.

Machines `of this character are of course subjected to varying climatic conditions, and the casings wil consequently shrink and swell to a certain extent. If then per end of the ma azine be attached direct y to the casing an the operative mechanism at a point below, there may be a separation of the ma azine and the operative mechanism or a bin ing betweenthe parts, according as the casing shrinks or elongates under varying weather conditions.y The present construction obviates both of these difficulties, and the lower end of the magazine is held at all times in its proper position with relation to the operative-mechanism- As beforeA stated, the lower edge of the door or closure B is provided with an opening O, which comes in alinement with the delivery chute or channel. It is likewise provided with a second opening a, which extends practically across the entire width of the door, said opening being formed in alinement with the actuating portions of the delivery mechanisms so as to expose the cranks or handles b and the coin slots or openings c. A

In order to protect the lower end of the door and to prevent access to the moneydrawers of the machine and the operative portions of the mechanisms, said lower end is sheathed or protected by a plate d. This plate is secured to the inner lower face of the door, being cut away where the opening O is formed, and likewise provided with a recessed or depressed section e. (Best shown in Fig. 5'.) The lower end of the plate is turned outwardly at right angles to the top portion thereof and then upwardly, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. This formation of the lower end produces a channel which when theparts are assembled embraces the lower end, of the door or closure B, the face thereof being cut away so that the upwardlyprojecting end lies flush, or practically so, with the orward or outer face of the door or closure. Openings g are formed in the lower edge of the plate in line with lugs or fingers h, which are turned upwardly from the lower member of the angle-plates H.

A metallic cross-bar i, the lower end of which is seated in the depression e in the plate d, extends from said plate across the opening (1,. Both ends of the cross-bar are securely fixed in position, and itwill be seen that the cross-bar bridges over the space be- -tween the front plates of the operative mechanisms, closing the forward portion of the chute or channel through which the goods are delivered.

When the door is put in place, the lugs or fingers h pass into the openings g, the door being swung in at the upper endl and secured by a lock y', carried by the said upper end.

To facilitate the positioning of the door and the entrance of the lugs or fingers h into the `'openings g, I provide two conical-shaped projections, which Aare so situated upon the baseas to properly guide the lower end of the door toward the lugs as the door is put in place. With the door of the casing thus formed and protected it has been found by actual use of the machines that any'tampering with the sameispracticallyprecluded. Itis apparently well-nigh impossible by any ordinary means to force the door or to cut away the lower portion thereof to such an extent as would IOO IlO

permit the withdrawal of deposited coins or goods from the mechanism. The` wings M, which extend in behind the plate d, revent the coin from .being withdrawn from t e pan, into which it drops from the operative mechanism. -While the parts at this point are designed and do in use come so close together .as practically to preclude the i'nsertionof any device for withdrawing the coin, Astill the wings aiord a further protection against tampering with the-recei ts ofthe machine. By the employment of t e angle-plates H, which connect the sides and theQbase, these parts are secured together in a substantial manner. The angle-plates are supplemental, of course, to the ordinary construction which' is employed in making up casings of the kind herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with a suitable casing; operative mechanism carried thereby for the delivery of goods; a oods-magazine connections intermediate t e goods-magazine and the operative mechanism for holding the lower end of the ma azine in proper position; and a spring secured in the upper end of the casing', said spring having downward yrojecting iingers e aging the upper end o the magazine when t e magazine is brought to position, substantially at described. 1 Y

2. In combination with a casin operative mechanism carried thereby for t e delivery of goods; a goods-magazine .means carried by the operative mechanism for Ppositioning the, lower end of the magazine with relation to the operative mechanism; a spring secured Within' the upper end of the casing; and fingers W and X extending downwardly from said spr' and embracing theI upper end of the magazine when said magazine 1s brought' to its -proper position overthe operative mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a suitable cas a goods-delivery channelpmounted central yv thereof; operative mechanisms carried by the casing upon opposite sides of said channel for delivering goods to said channel; a goodsmagazine for each of said operative mechanisms; and a sprin secured in the upper end` of the casing, the ee ends of said sprin engaging and retaining the upper ends o the ma azines when they are brought into proper position, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a suitable casing; a delivery-channel or way carried thereby; operat've mechanisms also carried by the casing upon opposite sides of the channel, said mechanisms being adapted and arranged todeliver goods to the channel; and means, workin in conjunction with said way or channe for preventing the overthrow of the goods as they are delivered from one or the other of said mechanisms, substantially as described.

5. In combination with-a suitable casing; a delivery way or channel carried thereby; operative mechanisms also carried by the casing upon opposite sides of the way or channel and arranged to deliver goods to said channel; and a pivot'ed valve or deect'or mounted above said way or channel, subi stantially as and for the purpose. described,

6. In combination with va suitable casing;

operative mechanism for the delivery of goods; a plate D secured to said operative .mechanism; a plate F secured to the side wall of the casing and provided with a lip or flange E; an angle-plate I-I secured to the side othe casing and to the base thereof at their point of junction; and a lip I formed upon the upper edge of the angle-plate, sub` stantially as described.

7. In combination with a suitable casing; operative mechanism carried thereby for the delivery of goods; a door or closure for said casing; a protecting-plate for the lower end of said door, said plate extending around the lower edge of the door and embracing the same; andmeans for-securing the door in.

position, substantially as described. l

8. In combination with a suitable casing;

the plate; andmeans-for securing the upper.

end of the door-in position.

IOO

9. In combination with a suitable casing;

operative mechanism carried thereby for the delivery of goods; angle-plates secured to` the .sidewalls of the casing and the base thereof at their points of junction, the upper edge of each plate engaging and serving, in part, to hold` the operative mechanism in ppsition; lugs hextending upwardly fromsaid4 angle-plates; a` door or closure for said casing; and a plate secured to the rear face of the door, said plate embracing the loweredge of the door and formed with openings or re- .IIO

cesses to receive the lugs when the door is in position, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a suitable casing; a delivery-channel carried thereby; goodsdelivery mechanismsalso carried by the casing upon opposite sides ofthe channel; a door or closurefor said casing; a plate d secured to the rear face of the door, said plate embracing the lower end ofsaid door; a crossbar or plate 1l-extending from the plated across an opening formed in thedoor above said plate andcovering thespace between the goods-delivering mechanisms and means for securing said door in position;

11. In combination with a suitable casing; a goods-deliver channel mounted centrally thereof at the ower end of the casing; the

@it l 826,207

sidewalls ofthe channel being provided with channel; lugs `h extending upwardly from" laterally-extending wings M; goods-delivery the base of the casing and entering the openmechanislms carried by the caslng upon opings g when the door is in position; and 15 Y osit'e sides of said channel; a door Orclosure means for securing the upper end of said door 5 or said casing; a plate d secured to therear in lace.

'. fecel of said door at the loweriend thereof, n testimony whereofl 'have signed my said plate having openings g formed therein; name to this specification inthe presence of a cross-bar t extending from said plate d u two subscribing witnesses.

Werdly across an opening a formed in t e JOHN A. WILLIAMS. xo door said platelikewise covering the 'space Witnesses: 1

' between the goods-delivery mechanisms and H. (l. ROWLEY,

closing the upper portion of the delivery- F. J. MAsTERsON. 

